This dignity the Almighty has supported through all ages of the world, and towards all the children of men, that they should never give glory to another, honour to another, nor praise to graven images. And the enlightened mind in viewing this figurative dispensation, beholds great beauty in it. It is indeed, as the apostle expressed it, glorious. For although shadows. are merely considered only as the as the representation of better things to come, yet all these shadows consisted in substantial realities in natural things. Moses was called of the Lord and sent down into Egypt, for the great purpose which he effected there, in delivering Israel. God knew and his servant was had to know, that the Israelites would not believe on his own evidence, his own testimony: for know, my you friends, it is generally granted that no man can be witness in his own cause. No single thing can be a witness, if it is not of something beside itself, or besides its own declaration. Even the scriptures can be no evidence of the faith, by which we believe them. There must be something else, to evidence the certainty or uncertainty of their testimony. Hence when Moses declared, in regard to the requisition which had been put upon him, that he should go down into Egypt to deliver Israel, the people would not

obey him, for they would not believe him. The Lord knew this very well, and was therefore ready to give him an evidence, or empower him to give an evidence, superior to the testimony of man. He therefore bade him to cast down his rod, and when he had cast it down, it became a serpent; and when he commanded him to put forth his hand and take it again, it became a rod in his hand; although the moment before, it had been a frightful serpent, so that Moses himself fled from it.

Moses still seemed doubting, and the Lord assured him, that if these miracles did not suffice, he would give him to work other miracles. Moses no doubt, was well aware, that his testimony to the people and to Pharaoh, would receive no credit from them, though given to them in the most positive manner, and so with the miracles wrought in the wilderness. They would not be credulous enough to believe any thing about their truth; and therefore when they came out of Egypt, he was to work these miracles in their sight, because they knew of no other miracles than those which were outward which could be evidenced by their external senses; by seeing the fact externally before them. These he did in their sight, and he wrought many mighty miracles in the land ot Egypt, be

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fore Pharaoh would give up the people. Here we see the greatness, wisdom and power of God, by his condescending goodness, in all his manifestations and dealings with his people Israel, in their low and degraded state. They were sunk so low, that they were not able to rise high enough to have intercourse with their Creator, with the God of their salvation. They were afraid to come before his presence; they were just emerging from bondage and captivity. And we know my friends, the effects of servitudethere is no people on earth, who have a greater evidence, of the effects of oppression upon rational beings, than we have, in this land. We see how it has degraded our fellow creatures. Oppression it is said will make even a wise man mad.

But the Lord had a regard for Abraham, who was faithful before him, and to whom he had made a promise that he would do great things for his children. This promise he was willing to fulfil in everlasting mercy and kindness. Therefore he lead them in a way, suited to their low and ignorant state, he gave them a law covenant and a religion, which stood in outward things; and known only by their rational strength and understanding.

Every thing was expressed and pointed out, as though it had been addressed to one individual. He therefore addressed the people as one man, as one individual person. And we see the consistency of it when we discover, that the law given to Israel was exactly the same to every one, The people could not divide, they could not separate and fulfil the law, which was one and the same thing to every Israelite. Every part of it was the same to every one, and clear and plain to the external senses. There could be no doubt introduced; as all was given through the miraculous interposition of divine power. And whenever any of the prophets were raised up, if any thing farther was added by the revelation of God, it would not be believed, only as it was opened to them, by the interposition of his divine power through outward miracles. This was the highest evidence that ever could be given through an ternal medium. And although this was glorious in its day, yet when compared with the dispensation of the 'gospel, we see that it loses all its glory; because outward miracles are no evidence of the gospel dispensation ;-for an inward and spiritual dispensation can never be understood by our external senses. It is also of

great moment, my friends to understand the figurative dispensation.

This dispensation was intended to lead the people gradually, from that darkened, low, ignorant, and debased state, up into a state and condition, sufficient for the receiving of a law inwardly, which was to be a divine manifestation to the soul;-it was to be something which the natural eye had never seen, nor the ear heard, and which could not be discovered by any external evidence. As soon as this was effected, the outward dispensation was to come to an end. Thus, when one single individual Israelite, a son of Abraham, was prepared by it for the introduction of the gospel dispensation, which was to succeed the law, we find that the law dispensation had come to its summit and end; for it had answered all its purpose. It had brought one indvidual into a situation to receive the law of the spirit of life.

Here we find it introduced immediately, by the direction of God Almighty, through the operation of his own spirit and power. Moses was sent of God. Jesus Christ, a son of Abraham, and of God, was sent as Moses was, commissioned to do the work of God, and to fulfil the law dispensation, not failing in any one part of